One day after his incredible four goal performance against Real Madrid, Robert Lewandowski is rumored to be the target of a $46.4m (£30m) bid by Manchester United. It’s been a rumor that has gone hot and cold throughout the last year but after Lewandowski’s scintillating display last night, it’s now come to a boil.

Dortmund, however, are desperate to keep their star striker and claim they aren’t rushed to sell Lewandowski even though he has just 12 months remaining on his contract. United face competition for the Polish international from Bayern Munich, who recently triggered the $49.5 (£32m) release clause of Dortmund playmaker, Mario Gotze. Fortunately for the Black & Yellows, there is nothing to indicate that Lewandowski’s contract contains a similar provision.

Dortmund are expected to ramp up their efforts to re-sign their 33 goal hitman despite the reports that Lewandowski has turned down multiple offers and wants to leave for a bigger club. BVB will do everything they can to ensure that if they are unable to re-sign the striker that he does not end up in Bavaria. Relations between the two clubs are at an all-time low after Dortmund were furious with Bayern’s decision to announce the Gotze coup on the morning of the Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid.

The strain in relations between Dortmund and Munich will be a huge boost to United’s chances of signing Lewandowski. It is widely believed that it will take more than $46.4m (£30m) for Dortmund to part with the striker although BVB general manager Hans-Joachim Watzke has made the outlandish statement that his club may even keep Lewandowski for the next 12 months, even if it means the player eventually departs on a free transfer.

Surely, Sir Alex Ferguson can convince him otherwise.

If United are to sign the Polish phenom, a swap deal could be in the cards. The Red Devils have previously suggested bringing Atletico Madrid striker Radamel Falcao into the fold for cash and a swap of Javier Hernandez, who United claims to be valued at $31m (£20m), which seems a bit rich. Don’t be surprised if a similar offer is proposed to Dortmund.

One thing United won’t be doing is buying both Falcao and Lewandowski. Not only do they occupy the same role on the pitch but the cost required to purchase the two would be astronomical. Plus, United already have one of the best strikers in the world in Robin van Persie. Which raises the question – what would happen to the Dutchman if United purchased another high-line striker?

Surely, RVP won’t be sold. But we could see a situation where Ferguson begins to limit the number of appearances the Dutch striker makes in order to prolong his career. Van Persie turns 30 years old this summer and given his injury ravaged past and the number of competitions United participate in on a yearly basis, such a rotation might not be a terrible idea.

A move for Lewandowski would also raise questions as to what to do with Wayne Rooney. United could effectively finance a deal for Lewandowski if it were to sell Rooney to Paris Saint-Germain but whether Ferguson is truly ready to part with the Englishman remains to be seen.

But don’t be so sure United is the only English squad ready to make a play for Lewandowski. Manchester City are widely rumored to be looking to bring in a world-class striker and the Pole could be just the man for the job. What’s more, City are looking to unload Edin Dzeko and have entertained the idea of a swap plus cash deal.

The question then becomes: If you’re Dortmund, who would you prefer to swap for Lewandowski – Chicharito or Dzeko?

I do wonder about this a bit since Lewankowski seems like the same player as RVP. But….he’s about 5 years younger and United DO play a lot of matches during a year. Having two really good strikers is never a bad thing.

It would be a shame to lose Chicarito, but it’s kinda a luxury to have a player as good as him having trouble getting games.

As for Rooney, I just don’t understand this constant talk about how he’s being squeezed out at striker. He’s barely played a single game this year at the most forward player on the field. He’s an attacking midfielder who gets back on defense and will drop deep to get the ball. If people just accept him as THAT, he can be pretty effective. How many other EPL midfielders similarly freak out defenses when they surge forward?

i would be really suprised if dortmund lets him go. they got a massive amount of cash from munich for goetze and they got a huge amount out of the current championsleague season. if they dont have a replacement in mind, they just keep him. remember, they next striker they got is schieber. who is barely bundesliga quality.

That might be a reason to made the trade. For Dortmund, it’ll be tough to find a proper replacement for Lewandowski, whether it is this year or the next. Getting Dzeko or Hernandez, on top of a fair amount of cash, might be more valuable to Dortmund on the long term than one season of Lewandowski

I really like this kid but I just don’t see him repeating this kind of performance in the EPL. Maybe I’m wrong but we’ll see. If Man U grabs him they’ll have to get rid of some players.

And if you are RL, do you want to be coming on the bench some games when you could choose to start anywhere else. I see this a lot in soccer and honestly, I really don’t understand it. Wouldn’t a player rather play more and get paid slightly less?

I guess that depends on how much is “slightly more” and on how much is” slightly less”.

The last couple of seasons, across all competitions, Lewandoski has been averaging about 40 plus appearances. This seems to be standard for regular starters in the EPL and the BL.

Chicharito during his time at Man U comes in at about 18 appearances per.

RVP will probably hit about 40 this season. That will be the most he has ever done in the EPL since he put in 22 a few seasons ago. Talk about injury prone.

Lewandoski and Chicharito are both 24 and RVP is about 30.

At his age Chicharito will want to play more because that is the only way he can get the really big money.

If Lewandoski moves to Man U. then that will likely be his biggest deal ever and will likely set him for life.

RVP has his money. Age, history and logic dictates scaling him back from the 40 appearances plateau.

SAF sees the need for the main man big time scorer that RVP filled this year. Whoever it is, whether RL , Falcao or someone else, then he can move RVP into Chicharito’s slot.

Of course if Wellbeck could fill that slot then Man U would not need to buy anyone but it seems like SAF likes the chemistry of how his 4 man striker rotation sets up , with Rooney and Wellbeck as the more versatile striker/midfielder types while RVP and Chicharito as more all-out striker types.

I like this move for Man U, only if Chicharito goes in the deal. I think he’s a great player as a super sub, but adding Lewandowski would mean a glut at forward and a lot of mopey strikers there (see Berba last year after RVP was signed).

One of those strikers doesn’t need to be Rooney though, I thought he’s looked great as the attacking midfielder alongside Carrick. If you have those two and Cleverly as your central midfield rotation along with Giggs………well they’re set. So then at striker you’d have RVP, Lewandowski, Welbeck, Kagawa, and Powell if they don’t loan him out. Solid. You sell Nani to balance out the wage sheet (along with Scholes retirement, something tells me he’s not playing for peanuts), and you’re all set.

So not only do they get better, they do it revenue neutral. Even the Glazers can’t object there, can they?

As a Dortmund fan, I would rather keep Lewa and just let him walk at the end of next season than send him to Man U for cash and freaking Chicharito. I think the little pea does not have the chops to be a starter for BVB in the Bundesliga.

@danielofthedale.: lewa is not going to manu. he goes to bayern and there is NOTHING dortmund can do about it. he goes either this year for 25mio euro or next year without compensation. dortmund management cant hold the best players. the crazy thing is, these players like lewa and goetze dont want to play anymore for dortmund, even for more money. the give a shit about the gelbe wand!!!!!